''If he's going to stay in England, who knows? You've got to be interested when the very, very best players become available but it would be a big ask.

''I'm sure there'll be some big fish out there wanting to take Rooney, that's for sure.

''He's a fantastic player - he's having a bad spell, he's had a bad two or three months - but he's a great player.''

He added: ''At the end of the day, Wayne Rooney will be a free agent. What an amazing situation to be in: somebody who's worth £50million-£60million will be a free agent.

''He's going to want a decent signing-on fee; he's not going to be cheap, is he? Players do have the power now. What a position to be in.

''He's in a position where, if somebody gives him £30million, you're still getting a very cheap player - if they give it to him personally. That's without his wages.

''He's got 18 months to get through before he's going to be free, which is going to be difficult.

''But if that's the road he wants to go down, he can go down that road. Man United can do nothing about it.

''All they can do is keep trying to make him a better offer to sign a contract, I suppose. There's no other way out for a club. One thing's for sure, he won't find a better club than Manchester United to play for.

''He's got a great manager there. I don't know what's gone on there but it's a shame if it ends that way.''